Betomasthem is described in the Book of Judith as a town "over against
Esdraelon, facing the plain that is near Dothaim", As such, historian and archaeologist
Charles Cutler Torrey identified Betomasthem as a pseudonym for the city of Samaria. Torrey went further to identify the Hebrew basis for Betomasthem as “Bayit Mizpah”, which means “house of outlook”. This is plausible, because "Samaria" is the Greek translation of the Hebrew name "Shomron", which means "watch" or "watchman". Others have proposed different identifications. It can hardly be Deir Massīn, which lies west of "the plain that is near Dothan". The district is clearly indicated, but no identification has been possible.
Adam Zertal and Nivi Mirkam have suggested the site of
el-Baṭn, located between the
Jezreel and
Dothan Valleys, as a possible candidate for Betomasthem. Theologian
Antoine Augustin Calmet wrote in his commentary on the book of Judith, the "Commentaire littéral sur tous les livres de l'ancien et du nouveau testament: "Béthomesthaim is Betsamés, or, according to the Syriac pronunciation, Bétomesta". This identification identifies Betomasthem as
Beth Shemesh. However, this is much too south to be anywhere near the Jezreel valley. == References ==